Author: poetryfest

Submit your Poetry to the Festival. Three Options: 1) To post. 2) To have performed by an actor 3) To be made into a film.

The death of George Floyd inspired this powerful poem by Olive Senior — Repeating Islands

[Many thanks to Peter Jordens for bringing this item to our attention.] CBC Books’s original writing series, “Transmission,” reflecting on life during COVID-19. brings us a beautiful poem by Olive Senior, inspired by the death of George Floyd, “B for Breathe.” See the full article at CBC Books. Olive Senior has been sharing poems on Twitter throughout […]

via The death of George Floyd inspired this powerful poem by Olive Senior — Repeating Islands

A LAST LOOK BEFORE LEAVING, by David Cook

Suddenly she hadn’t the heart to quarrel.
‘He’s faithless and won’t change’
and with that thought was freed.
After he had gone out, she packed
and put her suitcase by the door.
A last look before leaving.
The rug chosen together in Istanbul,
chess set lovingly given him.
‘Three years and nothing.’

She walked towards the traffic and hailed a taxi,
in her raised hand the black queen.

Nebraska ‘s Autumn A Dried Wildflower Pallet, by Barbara J. Tetro Franzen

Serene and silent
autumn is
my favorite season,
showing the colors
in the setting sun.
Its brush, a dried wildflower
bouquet. in deep rose,
dusty plum, rusty red,
wine and tangerine,
golden-yellow,
and marigold,
beholden in my eyes
until the snow flies
moving autumn aside
the earth turning sterile white.

“I consider trial by jury as the only anchor yet imagined by man by which a government can be held to the principles of its Constitution.” — Art of Quotation

“I consider trial by jury as the only anchor yet imagined by man by which a government can be held to the principles of its Constitution.” Thomas Jefferson, president 51 Senators

via “I consider trial by jury as the only anchor yet imagined by man by which a government can be held to the principles of its Constitution.” — Art of Quotation

“Evil is unspectacular and always human, And shares our bed and eats at our own table” — Art of Quotation

“Evil is unspectacular and always human, And shares our bed and eats at our own table” W.H. Auden, writer, poet, from the poem Herman Melville

via “Evil is unspectacular and always human, And shares our bed and eats at our own table” — Art of Quotation

“Look into your own heart because who looks outside, dreams, but who looks inside awakes.” — Art of Quotation

Look into your own heart because who looks outside, dreams, but who looks inside awakes. Jane Austen

via “Look into your own heart because who looks outside, dreams, but who looks inside awakes.” — Art of Quotation

“When freedom does not have a purpose, when it does not wish to know anything about the rule of law engraved in the hearts of men and women, when it does not listen to the voice of conscience, it turns against humanity and society.“ — Art of Quotation

When freedom does not have a purpose, when it does not wish to know anything about the rule of law engraved in the hearts of men and women, when it does not listen to the voice of conscience, it turns against humanity and society. Pope John Paul II

via “When freedom does not have a purpose, when it does not wish to know anything about the rule of law engraved in the hearts of men and women, when it does not listen to the voice of conscience, it turns against humanity and society.“ — Art of Quotation

“In the face of mass anger over police brutality, they’ve effectively said So what?” / “who has the right to hold the police to account?” — Art of Quotation

Excerpt: What we’ve seen from rioting police, in other words, is an assertion of power and impunity. In the face of mass anger over police brutality, they’ve effectively said So what? In the face of demands for change and reform — in short, in the face of accountability to the public they’re supposed to serve […]

via “In the face of mass anger over police brutality, they’ve effectively said So what?” / “who has the right to hold the police to account?” — Art of Quotation

“It’s been a long, a long time coming / But I know a change gon’ come” — Art of Quotation

“A Change Is Gonna Come” Songwriter: Sam Cooke, 1964 I was born by the river in a little tent Oh, and just like the river I’ve been running ever sinceIt’s been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gon’ come, oh yes, it willIt’s been too hard living, but I’m afraid […]

via “It’s been a long, a long time coming / But I know a change gon’ come” — Art of Quotation